Time To Uncouple “ButlerandGordon”

If there is anything that symbolizes the great hopes of Royals fans over the past few years, it’s ButlerandGordon.  Er, I mean, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon.  Ever since 2006, when Alex was the Minor League Player of the Year and Butler won the Texas League batting title while they were teammates at Wichita, these two players have been inextricably linked in the Royals universe.

And why not?  They were the most promising hitting prospects in a long time for the Royals, they were drafted only one year apart, and at Wichita, they were the best one-two hitting duo in the minors.

Things change, however, and with that change, I’m suggesting that it’s high time that “ButlerandGordon” simply become Billy Butler and Alex Gordon.  Butler has emerged this year as a legitimate hitting star who can play a competent first base; Gordon has taken at least one big step backwards both offensively and defensively.

I should preface this by saying that I have never particularly been a big Alex Gordon fan.  He’s never impressed me as a guy who was willing to work and sacrifice to get the most out of his admittedly significant talent. 

I’m reminded of a two-game stretch after his return from a hip injury in August when he dropped a popup one night because he was trying to catch it one-handed—then he returned the very next night and did exactly the same thing.  That, to me, shows a guy who prefers to look good rather than play well. 

That said, there’s no denying the separation between their 2009 seasons.  Butler spanked his 49th double last night (his 68th extra base hit of the year) and has posted a season line (to date) of .300/.358/.487. 

Not All-Star material yet, but for a player who turned 23 at the start of this season, that’s pretty salty and gives an indication of future potential.  Meanwhile, Gordon’s season has admittedly been hampered by injury—but when on the field, he’s struggled to a .227/.333/.359 line. 

Worse, Gordon has looked less like a professional third baseman and more like a gorilla with scoliosis and an inner ear imbalance while in the field. 

The difference?  In my mind, it’s work ethic.  I busted on Butler after Fan Fest for looking distinctly Rosie O’Donnel-esque, but there’s no denying that on Opening Day, he was in great shape and has applied himself not only to realizing his potential with the stick, but in learning how to wear a glove for something besides a handwarmer. 

Let’s be honest for a moment—Billy had the easy way laid out in front of him.  Just be a DH, Billy.  We love your bat, we know you can hit, and you can devote all your energies to doing it.

Instead, Butler has fought tooth and nail for the opportunity to be a complete baseball player—one that plays in the field, as well—and through work has turned himself into, at worst, an adequate first baseman.  On his best day, Mike Sweeney never picked throws like Billy has been able to this year.

Billy will, of course, have his moments at first base, but it’s unlikely that he’ll ever be confused with the famous “Doctor Strangeglove,” Dick Stuart.

Butler’s development at first base hasn’t just helped himself; it’s helped the team.  Without Butler’s glove, we’d have been watching Mike Jacobs butcher first base all year.  By making himself adequate in the field, Butler creates an opportunity for the Royals to sign a dedicated DH.

Meanwhile, Gordon stuttered through April before his hip injury, in Joe Posnanski’s words ”moped and pouted” his way through an Omaha assignment, and is finally showing some flashes of competence with the bat in September.  His defense, however, makes you wonder if moving Butler away from third base was such a bad idea back in ‘04. 

In this blog, I suggested in Spring Training that the Royals really needed to set up a competition for the 3B job between Gordon and Mark Teahen; a competition that Gordon might just lose.  Well, the way it worked out, Gordon has posted a lost season while Teahen has comprehensively demonstrated that Gordon should be considered No. 2 at the 3B depth chart.

In fact, at this point, Gordon might be our third-best option at third base. More than one scout has observed that Alberto Callaspo has both the quickness and the arm to play third base, and in fact when he’s been slotted there, Callaspo has played well.

This wouldn’t be a big deal—except that Alberto has emerged from the pack to establish himself as the second-best bat in Royal blue this year.  At 26, Callaspo is sitting at .298/.351/.450 in 533 ABs. 

The guy who scouts said might NEVER hit a big league homer has gone yard 10 times this year, along with 37 doubles and 7 triples (that’s 54 extra base hits for those keeping score at home). 

In addition, he’s the toughest strikeout on the Royals, with only 42 in 533 AB’s for a ratio of one K every 12.7 at bats.  With 45 walks, he’s also the only everyday Royal who walks more than he strikes out.  And as noted, he’s 26, and the breakout season tends to come at 27.  If this isn’t the breakout season, we at least have SOMETHING to look forward to in 2010.

When I look at the differences between Billy and Alex, I can’t help but be reminded of the draft situations with both.  Butler was widely criticized as a “signability” pick by Allard Baird, while the Royals were cheered from all quarters in signing Gordon, the College Player of the Year.

Billy’s signing went through like crap through a goose.  One day he’s drafted, a couple of days later he’s at Kauffman Stadium wearing a Royals jersey and signing a contract, and a few days later he’s an active Idaho Falls Chukar.

Alex, who professed to being a “lifelong Royals fan,” missed the first potential half-season of development while playing contract games with the Royals.  In fact, Butler was the last first-round pick the Royals have had who simply signed and went and played ball, rather than doing the “sit out” game.

Hmmmmm…wonder if there’s something to be said for “signability,” if “signability” means “a kid who would rather play baseball than sit around with his thumb up his ass waiting for an extra $500,000 on his signing bonus?”

The fact is that the Royals’ first round picks since Butler have disappointed at least a little (Gordon) to a lot (Luke Hochevar), and each of them have been willing to miss Rookie league ball in favor of extorting the maximum signing bonus. 

Look at the numbers—Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer have each posted disappointing years (even while being promoted), and Hochevar—well, Hochevar has sucked this year, 80 pitches against free swinging Cincinnati notwithstanding.

Perhaps—and I’m just suggesting—perhaps there’s something positive about a ballplayer whose primary ambition is to be a ballplayer as soon as possible.  We simply don’t have a lot of luck with players who don’t. 

In any case, it’s time to think of Billy Butler and Alex Gordon as separate entities, one whose career is on the upswing and one whose career may be hanging in the balance.  If the Royals want to get the most out of Gordon, they need to do something that they never have—make him win his job. 

They moved Teahen to the outfield to accommodate him, and according to Sam Mellinger’s blog, they are determined NOT to entertain the option of Callaspo as the third baseman because it might interfere with Gordon’s progression.

At this point, there is nothing—repeat, nothing—to indicate that Gordon might have a better MLB career than Callaspo.  The Royals need to keep that in mind.  And perhaps, committing to playing the best player at a particular spot is a good way to start.